NEW DELHI, Sept. 22 (Xinhua) -- At least 10 people were killed and three others injured after a sports utility vehicle (SUV) skidded off a mountain road and plunged into a gorge in northern Indian state of Himachal Pradesh on Saturday, police said.

The accident occurred on Tiyuni Road at Snail in the state's Shimla district, also the capital of Himachal Pradesh.

"The SUV carrying the 13 victims veered off the road and fell into the gorge after its driver lost control over the vehicle. While 10 people, including three women, died in the impact of the crash, the injured have been admitted to a hospital," a police official said.

Local police chief Omapati Jamwal told the media that senior police officials have been sent to the accident site to oversee rescue operations.

A probe has been ordered into the incident, the official added.

India has the highest number of road fatalities in the world. Road accidents occur mostly due to poor driving or badly maintained roads and vehicles.?????